The new 2015 Chevrolet Silverado HD makes a bullish first impression in its new commercial, which will air during the Super Bowl XLVIII broadcast on Fox on Sunday. / General Motors

Detroit Free Press Business Writers

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The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado HD makes a bullish first impression in its commercial, which will air during the Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday. / General Motors

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General Motors purchased two 60-second commercials for Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday to showcase Chevrolet, marking the automaker’s return to the biggest TV event a year after avoiding the game.

The first ad — which GM is releasing online today — promotes the heavy-duty version of the recently redesigned Chevrolet Silverado pickup. GM declined to provide details about the second ad, though both will air on Fox during the first quarter.

GM is one of at least nine car or truck makers, one auto retailer and a car accessory company that bought time for this year’s Super Bowl. Other auto-related advertisers include Audi, CarMax, Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar/Land Rover, Kia, Toyota, WeatherTech and Volkswagen.

Mahoney also said Chevy plans to air 11 ads during the Winter Olympics, which start next week in Sochi, Russia. Chevy will heavily emphasize the Silverado, Cruze, Equinox, Malibu and Traverse during the Olympics.

Mahoney said he wants to target “head-turning, cultural moments that get a broad audience to reconsider what they know about Chevrolet.”

The automaker skipped the Super Bowl last year, citing concerns over escalating ad costs. At about $4 million for 30 seconds this year — in addition to undisclosed production costs — the bill adds up quickly. In 2012, GM bought five ads during the game.

Mahoney, who joined GM after the decision to avoid last year’s Super Bowl, said Chevy now has a strong product lineup to make it worth the purchase.